Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai has confirmed that he deliberately withdrew his two children, Abubakar-Sadiq and Nasrine, from Capital School following security reports that they are a possible target of certain bandits.

The embattled governor justified his action, saying that his decision was based on the intelligence he received that three groups of bandits had planned to abduct his son, Sadiq.

Speaking in an interview with BBC Pidgin, El Rufai disclosed that, being an advocate of public school, he thought it wise to also enrol Sadiq’s younger sister, Nasrine in the same school when she turned six.

He noted that he has, however, noticed that following series of attacks on schools and his resolve not to pay ransom to bandits, he has suddenly become the target of certain elements.

Following the intelligence reports, the governor admitted that he was compelled to remove his children from their school.

According to him, the two children who are currently homeschooling and only visit Capital School to write exams will return fully when security situation in the state improves.

“My son and also my daughter are registered in the school, because his (Abubakar-Sadiq) sister also clocked six and we registered her in the school. But we had to temporarily withdraw them for the security of the school because we received a security report that three groups were planning to attack the school and kidnap my son.

“I don’t think they (kidnappers) would have succeeded because there are enough security in the school to prevent them, but it would expose other pupils of the school to danger. We didn’t know the kind of weapon they would have brought. I had taken a stand against payment of ransom and we had report that, three groups were planning to kidnap my son from Capital School to see whether I will pay ransom or not if my son is kidnapped,” said El-Rufai.